Police shoot chain-wielding man in East Harlem

Police shot and wounded a man who had attacked at least one person with a heavy metal link chain in East Harlem on Tuesday evening, authorities said.

Police released this photo of the chain that the suspect allegedly used to attack a person in East Harlem on Tuesday. Credit: NYPD

Police shot and wounded a man who had attacked at least one person with a heavy metal link chain in East Harlem on Tuesday evening, authorities said.

After striking one victim with the chain, the unidentified man lunged at a uniformed Housing officer at about 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday at the entrance of a women's apparel store at 1870 Third Ave. near 102nd Street, police said.

The man continued to threaten the officer despite repeated commands to drop the chain. When the officer came within five feet of the suspect, he swung the chain at him. The officer responded by shooting him once in the abdomen. The suspect fell backward but soon got back up on his feet and began to lunge toward the officers again.

He was sprayed twice with pepper spray to no apparent effect, cops said. He was finally restrained when a group of officers surrounded him, brought him to the ground, disarmed him and took him into custody. The man was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition Tuesday night.

The man did not have any identification on him and his fingerprints produced no results, police said.